Title: Hear, O Israel / Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Content Today we are facing a crisis in education. It is a time when we are concerned about the absence of education and the disappearance of education due to the heterogeneity. Parents at home are facing the limits of their children's education, and they are sad that teachers and pupils are gone at school. Even more in the church, church education is struggling with a feeling of despair as if it is sinking into a deep pit from which it cannot escape.
In a time like this, on the occasion of Christian Education Promotion Sunday, I think it is really necessary to receive grace through the text and to recognize the necessity and meaning of Christian education and the mission of Christian education again.
1. Hear Israel
Among the texts, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is a famous passage known as 'Shema. The people of Israel regarded these words as truly precious, and as in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, they ① engrave them on their hearts ② teach their children diligently ③ preach at every opportunity ④ even wear a cloth with the Shema written on them on their wrists. ⑤ When wearing a hat, fold the cloth with the Shema written on it on the part that touches the head so that it touches the forehead. I used to write it on the outside.
Then, let's take a closer look at the contents of the Shema, which Israel treasured.
2. Listen
Listening here is a command from God, not saying to listen if you want to hear it and stop if you don't want to, you must listen! You must listen! is the right and imperative word. It is not a word of exhortation or request, but a word of exhortation, which contains a strong warning that if you do not listen, you will die or you will be cursed.
3. The One and Only Jehovah
So what are you going to listen to? If you look at the contents of 'Shema', the words "Hear, O Israel" are followed by the words "The LORD our God is the only LORD." What we need to know here is that the God we believe in is 'one and only' Jehovah. There are several types of theology. I believe in polytheism, pantheism, monotheism, and monotheism.
Christianity has never accepted any theology other than monotheism. And God has revealed who He is through the Bible. In other words, the God we believe in is the one and only God revealed through the Bible.
4. New Age Movement
But these days, many people are discussing the symbiosis of many religions on the grounds of a pluralistic society, trying to mix religions, and there is an odd movement to believe in any god as it is reasonably convenient. One of them is a movement like the "New Age Movement." They attack Christianity's belief in God as subtly self-righteous and exclusive, and tempt them to see if it's possible to create one religion by taking the good points of each religion.
However, we believers should know that any other gods other than the God revealed in the Bible are 'idols' and 'false gods', and we must be on the alert.
5. Love the LORD your God
The only God revealed through the Bible is the God of love (1 John 4:8). That is why God wants to receive love while giving the love that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross to save people. As the master of absolute love, God is satisfied by giving and receiving love. Originally, we did not deserve to be loved, but since the Lord first loved us and saved us, we should also love the Lord. (1 John 4:10-11) Then, when we love God, how should we love Him? During a conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus said, "Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). These are the words that teach us to love wholeheartedly and with all our heart.
6. Teach your children
And to teach your children this kind of God and love for God, "Teach them diligently" (Deuteronomy 6:7). And preach these words when you sit at home, when you walk on the road, or when you lie down.” (Deuteronomy 6:7). That is, whenever and wherever you have the opportunity, you should teach them how to believe, serve, and love God. Today All crises and problems in education start from a wrong idea of God.
We believers should know that proper religious education is the way to restore true education in this world. I hope that the saints will stand firm on the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, find the education that is missing today, and be the saints who love God by standing on the right faith in God to rescue the education that is in crisis.
□ Example Tue 1. Results of experiment with the model of the ark
□ Yes Tue 2. Poetry by A. Pepe
There is this poem in the English poet A. Pepe's poem Alps on Alps.
“Learning and not learning is dangerous.
If you drink from the fountain of poetry, you can reach the realization of existence. If you want to learn, you have to learn really deeply to achieve great realization, and hasty education can ruin people.
□ Prayer
Lord, we do not have the strength and wisdom to understand the truth and it is difficult to teach. Help me, Lord, so that I can become more wiser than I am now with wisdom and power. But, never let anyone who deviates from your will, and use him as a person who accomplishes your will. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.